Chinese Spruce

Growth habit

Tree

Perennation

Long-lived polycarpic perennial

Native distribution

Mts, S. Quinghai, S Sichuan E Xizang

Location

Conifer Slope

Source of plant

Iseli Nursery

Description

Trees to 50m tall; trunk to 2.5m dbh; bark dull gray or brown-gray, breaking into thick, irregular plates; crown pyramidal; first year branchlets stout, with short nodes, densely pubescent. Winter buds brown, conical, ovoid, or globose, resinous, scales not reflexed, or slightly opening at base of branchlets. Leaves directed forward on upper side of branchlets, spreading on lower side, linear, straight or slightly curved, +/- broadly rhombic in cross section or subflattened, 0.6-1.5cm x 1-1.5mm, stomatal lines 3 or 4 along each surface abaxially, apex acute or obtuse. Seed cones red-brown or black-purple, maturing brown to reddish or black-brown, purple, ovoid-oblong or ovoid-cylindric, 4-9cm. Seeds gray-brown. Pollination April-May, seed maturity Sept-Oct.

USDA Hardiness Zone

4

Special characteristics

timber, winter interest